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From:United States
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 11-17-2003 02:50 PM         

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Hey guys, I need help. I have an outdoor cat(she HATES insid so I leave her outside). I put a collar on her and she hates it. She tries to bite it off and she hardly comes near me anymore. Should I take it off? my friend told me this is good for the cat so it learns ..(something she told me...?)Also she told me to get a leash. I did so and tried it but the cat runs away after i put it on. So i didn't put it on after that (been 2 days since). Also the cat doesnt like to spend too much time with me. Another thing is that when i pick her up she meows and tries to get down. Help me out guys.. what am I doin wrong!!???

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DaKoTa

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posted 11-17-2003 06:19 PM         

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Does the collar have a bell? Bells seem to annoy some cats....then again, if she is'nt used to wearing a collar Im sure it would annoy her anyway until she gets used to it.
Mircochipping is another option if the collar does'nt work out.
As far as the leash goes this will also take time for her to get used to but Im a bit confused on why you want to leash train her if she is an outside cat? Or did I misunderstand?
How old is this cat and how long have you had her?
In regards to her not liking to be around you much and not wanting to be held....some cats are just like that. Some don't like to be held and if you try and force them they may start avoiding you. Meowing while being picked up could also be a sign that she is in pain...has she been checked by a vet recently? Maybe you can entice her to come around you more with treats or catnip. Does she like having above her tailed rubbed at all? If so that is another thing you can do when she comes around you. If she knows something good is likely to happen when she comes to you...she may be likely to come around you more often. Hope this helps

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Vanessa

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posted 11-17-2003 06:23 PM         

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it didt show up. sry.. mind writing it again? write it to the "vanessa" one

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posted 11-17-2003 06:27 PM         

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nevermin i gt it
Thanks. IM only 12 so i can't go to a vet.. im broke..te colar doesn't have bells
anyways i don't think she's in pain because sometimes she doesn't meow for a while
whats the proper way to hold the cat?
My cat doesn't like catnip
I don't know how old the cat is.. i think 1 year and it is female. I just moved here and the next store neibor kept the cat btu had to let it go to it lives in my bakcyard pretty much but its mine
Its not that i want to walk it but i heard its good for the cat.. do u walk ur cat? prolly not..do u have aol or aim to make this easier?

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posted 11-17-2003 06:33 PM         

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Anotr thing about the cat is that i feel scared for her in the winter(its kinda cold now) so i try to put cloth around her(a nice scarf) and he always gets scared and runs away. is this normal? Also leav her abed a nite to sleepin and she doesn't.. is this normal too?

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DaKoTa

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posted 11-17-2003 06:41 PM         

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i have2 wait to seewhat uwote becase it takes a lng time t show up on reply. Does this happen to u?

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posted 11-17-2003 07:04 PM         

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Yes, the messages seem to take a few minutes to show up for me too.
Putting anything on the cat (whether its a scarf or a collar or a sweater) that it is not used to wearing will cause a reaction like this. Its completely normal. Besides, if you put a scarf on her she could possibly get caught on something like a fence so I don't think thats really a good idea.
I don't walk mine on a leash..they are all indoors only. In your situation,I would'nt bother with the hassle of getting her used to the leash since she lives outside anyway.
What kind of bed do you leave out for her and where? Maybe you can try an enclosed box with blankets inside...something enclosed with a small opening. You can even try feeding her there to try and get her to go inside.
If this cat is not used to being picked up that may be why she is acting this way. I pick mine up by lifting them with one arm under their front legs and one arm behind their back legs...and I kind of scoop them up. Most of mine don't mind being held, a few of them will only tolerate it for a few minutes and then they want to get down. She may get used to being picked up over time but just make sure you always put her down if she want to get down...never force her to be held. Does she like treats? Canned food? Pieces of cooked meat? If you can find something she really likes then you can try teaching her to come when you call her by offering her one of these special treats each time she comes. Then you can also try doing this to get her to allow you to pick her up. Pick her up for a few seconds, put her down and give her a special treat.
Good luck.

[This message has been edited by nern (edited 11-17-2003).]

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posted 11-18-2003 02:56 PM         

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There are a few problems..First of all she doesn't like catnip and stuff so I only give her canned and boxed cat food. 2nd of all she wont eat out of my hand. I wasn't planing on putting the scarf on after all because she would probably be unpleasant.
Sometimes she does let me pick her up but i gotta put her down rite away cuz she doesn't like it. I pick th cat up that way , and sumtimes very rarely i hold her like a baby with her legs up(but they go where they go naturally when im holding her). Because i used to do that with my othercat.
Another thing happened this afernoon after i came home from school. What happened was hat i came home and gave the ct som food(now remember im outside) i looked at the gound and there was (im pretty sure) puke...u know from the cat. It was the color ofthe food i gave her. Im not sure if this is good or bad. Is it natural for a cat to throw up once in a while cuz this is the first time. Maybe she just ate to much to fast? Get back to me thanx. (remember im 12)

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DaKoTa

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posted 11-18-2003 02:59 PM         

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p.s.
I leave the cat:
there is a towel on the floor, then a fluffy roung thin(made from lamb wool) covered with a towel. She doesn't sleep there though, i'm been lookingfor a box but can't find one.

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From:Philadelphia, PA
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posted 11-18-2003 03:18 PM         

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Is there a protected area in your back yard?
We have a covered porch out back & there is usually a stray cat camping out back there.
In the winter I usually get a box that is closed on 5 sides & they can walk into it & get comfortable (put newspapers inside & underneath for insulation)I also put either an old pillow or towel or something for warmth (check out the $1. store for some little towels if you have nothing availabe)
For a box check out the local WalMart or some similar store. When the clerks are unpacking they are glad to get rid of these boxes! I got a couple last week!
You could even put the box inside a trash bag & secure it w/heavy tape to potect against the rain. If it is directly on the ground raise it up a little with bricks or
something waterproof. Even an old square plastic trash can would be protection from the wind & cold.
I would forget about the collar since the cat is outside it may get caught on something
& strangle.
Try food for a sensitive stomach if the vomiting continues.
Good Luck!

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posted 11-18-2003 03:23 PM         

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One more thing, if the cat is female & is not fixed she is going to end of pregnant!
I know you don't have any money, but see if your local SPCA has low cost spay/neuter services or certificates.
Try a search on the web.
Maybe your mom or dad would loan you the money or you & your friends could do something to raise the money?

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posted 11-18-2003 03:56 PM         

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My cat just pukes sometimes, or if she got nervous. Have you tried a breakaway collar? They are really good for the cat. She may not like it at first, but if it gets caught on something it will break away so that she doesn't strangle it. Just another thought, are you sure the collar is narrow enough? It may be that it is too wide and large. Be sure if she has a collar that she has tags on it with your name, phone #, and address so that if she is lost someone can return her to you. My cat didn't like being picked up until we got the dog and she didn't get as much attention, then she was always begging to be picked up! Please try to get your cat fixed, we don't need more stray kitties!

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posted 11-19-2003 10:51 AM         

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Good Idea Skippy. See if you can look into any local rescue groups in your area that might have spay and neuter services. Their is a group in my area called Operation Spot and they provide Nickel neuters and very cheap spays for feral colony cats and folks who do not have the means to provide vet care.

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posted 11-19-2003 02:18 PM         

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Even if you pay for it your self, trust me it is cheaper to pay to fix the momma cat than to take care of all the kittens. Just trust me on that one, I have personal experience.

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posted 11-21-2003 02:47 PM         

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it's already been spayed because the lasy next store had kept her for a while but had to let her go because her othr cat was spitting and attacking her.

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